"The city has rules that outdoor signs are not supposed to project more than 15 inches from the building or exceed a height of 20 feet -- and it also said the sign was not considered historic unless it was on the national or state registry of historic places.

In order to keep the sign, the Blackburns had to apply for a variance, which required a public hearing.

The application process also required reams of documentation, including aerial shots of the building as well as research on similar hardship cases.

Community support came from the local neighborhood board, the Old Town Moiliili Business Association and the Outdoor Circle, a nonprofit best known for ridding the state of billboards.

"We really thought the sign represented more than just being a sign," said Mary Steiner, CEO of the Outdoor Circle. "It brings people back to the neighborhood and brings them back to remembering earlier days."

"Steiner said she did not consider the sign as advertising, but one that brings a sense of place to the community.

The McCully/Moiliili Neighborhood Board also voted last May to support keeping the sign intact, according to Chairman Ron Lockwood.

"We supported it because we're trying to bring more life and vibrancy to the neighborhood," said Lockwood. "It's a neat old sign -- that's the bottom line."

"Lockwood said as more and more longtime local businesses disappear, some group needs to be formed to track historic signs in town, which is not really undertaken by the Historic Hawai'i Foundation.

"What are our historical signs, and how do we preserve them at a faster pace than this one-year pace?" he said. "We preserve old buildings. What about old signs?"

"Blackburn said she is hoping to help others navigate the process in which one can keep a historic sign.

The Varsity, a restaurant and bar that replaced Magoo's Pizza on University Avenue, for instance, requested the old "Varsity Theatre" sign after its structure was recently demolished across the street, and is interested in putting it up again.